Sustainable aviation fuel supply in the European Union rose nearly sixfold in 2025, the first year airlines and fuel suppliers had to comply with new EU blending rules, according to an annual report published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the European Commission said Thursday.
Fuel suppliers reported delivering 39.3 million metric tons of aviation fuel at EU airports last year, including 1.1 million mt of SAF. That represented 2.8% of total supply, exceeding the 2% minimum required under the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation.
SAF supply rose from 193,000 mt in 2024 to 1.1 million mt in 2025. About 84% of the SAF supplied in the EU was produced within the bloc.
SAF availability also expanded significantly. It was supplied at 121 EU airports in 2025, up from 33 the previous year.
SAF is designed to reduce aviation's greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional fossil-based jet fuel. It includes synthetic fuels, advanced and other aviation biofuels, and fuels made from recycled carbon.
The report said current production capacity is on track to support the EU's mandatory SAF blending target of 6% by 2030.
Production of synthetic aviation fuel, or eSAF, also advanced last year, including the launch of the EU's largest demonstration plant. According to the report, around 50 additional projects are awaiting final investment decisions.
A low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel, eSAF is made using renewable electricity, hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide rather than fossil oil.
Austria, Luxembourg and Germany are preparing a pilot auction intended to encourage investment in eSAF production as part of the EU's eSAF Early Movers Coalition.
The European Commission is also studying ways to accelerate the development and use of sustainable aviation fuels as the bloc seeks to cut emissions from air travel.